torrid

adjective

tor·​rid ˈtȯr-əd How to pronounce torrid (audio)
ˈtär-
1
a
: parched with heat especially of the sun : hot
torrid sands
b
: giving off intense heat : scorching
2
: ardent, passionate
torrid love letters
torridity noun
torridly adverb
torridness noun

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What Do torrid and Toast Have in Common?

Hot, steamy, sultry: English is full of words that do double-duty in describing thirst traps both literal (as in the tropics) and figurative (as in, well, thirst traps). Torrid comes from the Latin verb torrēre, which means “to burn” or “to parch” and is an ancestor of our word toast. (Despite its dry implications, torrēre is also an ancestor of torrent, as in “a torrent of rain.”) Torrid first appeared in English in the 16th century and was originally used to describe something burned or scorched by exposure to the sun, but it has since taken on an extended meaning similar to the “sexy” sense of hot: “showing fiery passion,” as in “torrid love letters” or “a torrid affair.”

Examples of torrid in a Sentence

The team had a torrid time trying to score. the dry, torrid summers in southern Arizona
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sophomore guard had a torrid start to the season, which was even more impressive considering these were his first meaningful minutes after being buried on the bench on a veteran team the year before. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025 In a torrid opening round for the 40-year-old contender, Cannonier was dropped twice by the heavy-handed Brazilian, whose striking had the American fighter in big trouble early. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025 Green is no stranger to torrid shooting performances. Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025 That was vital, because Dortmund have endured a torrid season and are naturally fragile. Elias Burke, The Athletic, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for torrid

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & Latin; French torride, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin torridus "dried by exposure to heat, parched, scorched," adjective derivative from the stem of torreō, torrēre "to heat so as to dry, scorch, parch" — more at thirst entry 1

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of torrid was in 1545

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Cite this Entry

“Torrid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torrid. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

torrid

adjective
tor·​rid ˈtȯr-əd How to pronounce torrid (audio)
ˈtär-
: very hot and usually dry
torridly adverb
Etymology

from Latin torridus "dried or burnt by heat, torrid," derived from torrēre "to heat so as to dry up or burn" — related to torrent

Word Origin
The Latin verb torrēre, meaning "to heat so as to dry up or burn," gave rise to two quite different English words. They are torrid and torrent. The Latin adjective torridus, meaning "dried or burnt by heat," was formed from torrēre. It became our torrid. Another Latin adjective, torrens, meaning "scorching, burning," was also formed from torrēre. It, however, gained a second sense of "flowing with great force and speed, rushing." This second sense led to the use of torrens as a noun for "a rushing or violent stream." This noun was borrowed into English as torrent. It came to refer not only to rushing water, but also to any kind of outpouring, such as of words, information, sounds, or feelings.

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